Power operated can opener with unique thrust link

ABSTRACT

An electrically powered can opener has a selectively removable cutter mounting plate which carries the cutting element thereon and suitable components for initiating power-pierce and automatic shutoff. The cutter mounting plate is removably fastened to the can opener upright frame by a single pin member and latch. The upright frame further supports the thrust means which is pivotally movable in order to properly orient the can feed wheel with respect to the cutter element. The thrust means operates to move the can feed wheel, yet maintains the center distance between certain gears normally associated with the feed wheel drive shaft regardless of the vertical position of the can feed wheel.

United States Patent [191 McLean 154i POWER OPERATED CAN OPENER WITH UNIQUE THRUST LINK [75] Inventor: Robert E. McLean, Kansas City,

[73] Assignee: Rival Manufacturing Company,

Kansas City, Mo.

[22] Filed: Feb. 19,1971

[2]] Appl. No.: 116,905

[56] V 7 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,156,044 11/1964 Congdon ..30/4 R 3,496,635 2/l970 McLean 2,995,818 3/1961 Scott ..30/4 R 1 June 5,1973

Primary Examiner0thell M. Simpson Assistant Examiner-Gary L. Smith Att0rney-Scofield, Kokjer, Scofield & Lowe [57] ABSTRACT An electrically powered can opener has a selectively removable cutter mounting plate which carries the cutting element thereon and suitable components for initiating power-pierce and automatic shutoff. The cutter mounting plate is removably fastened to the can opener upright frame by a single pin member and latch. The upright frame further supports the thrust means which is pivotally movable in order to properly orient the can feed wheel with respect to the cutter element. The thrust means operates to move the can feed wheel, yet maintains the center distance between certain gears normally associated with the feed wheel drive shaft regardless of the vertical position of the can feed wheel 8 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUM 5197s 3.736559 SHEET 2 0F 3 INVENTOR Poerr 5. Ma 1 4a)? MM MA PAIENTEUJUH 51975 SHEET 3 BF 3 INVENTOR.

Eaberf Z. Melee)? A 7" wen [m POWER OPERATED CAN OPENER WITH UNIQUE THRUST LINK BACKGROUND AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The power-pierce and automatic shutoff structure and operation somewhat similar to that of the present invention have been shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,253,334, which issued May 31, 1966. Also, my U.S. Pat. No. 3,496,635, which issued Feb. 24, 1970, and which is owned by the same assignee as the subject invention describes the concept of removably attaching a hand lever assembly to the frame of a can opener. This spring biased latch concept for removably attaching the hand lever was further disclosed in my patent application entitled ELECTRIC CAN OPENER WITH REMOVABLE HAND LEVER AND FRAME ENGAGING PIN ASSEMBLY, Ser. No. 47,937, filed June 22, 1970.

The subject invention relates generally to can openers which incorporate the concepts of power-pierce, automatic shutoff, and a removable cutter mounting plate, said concepts being uniquely interrelated to produce not only a reliable and efficient can opener but also one which may have the abovementioned features, yet which can be economically produced.

The can opener includes the usual upright frame which supports most of the operative elements thereof. The upright frame is suitably apertured to receive the cutter mounting plate which will include a pin member rigidly attached thereto and extending rearwardly into the frame. This pin member finally engages a push button operated spring biased latch which either pivotally retains the cutter mounting plate on the can opener frame for operative movement or permits the separation thereof depending upon the position of the associ' ated latch.

A unique thrust means in the form of a goose-neck link is pivotally attached to the rear surface of the can opener frame and movable with a swingable hand lever. The upper end of the goose-neck link is interconnected with a portion of the hand lever. The lower portion of the goose-neck link 15 is pivotally and movably connectedwith the feed wheel drive shaft. The frame is appropriately apertured as suggested above so that clockwise swinging of the hand lever (when viewed from the front of the frame) moves the goose-neck link upwardly in a substantially vertical path to engage the underside of the rim or flange of a can to be opened and to force same into a cutting relationship with the cutter element which is conventionally attached to the cutter mounting plate. The goose-neck link and the cutter mounting plate cooperate with the direction of rotation of the can feed wheel in order to maintain the can piercing lever in the can shearing position at all times while the'end of the can is being sheared. Appropriate biasing means operate to both initiate powerpierce prior to the actual shearing of the end of the can and automatic shutoff once the end has been severed therefrom.

An object of my invention is to' provide a power operated can opener which uniquely combines a powerpierce, automatic shutoff and removable cutter mounting plate for reliable, and efficient operation in an economically producible unit.

Another object of my invention is to provide a uniquely constructed power operated can opener which has a cutter mounting plate (carrying the cutter element thereon) fastened to the can opener frame by a single stud or pin member in combination with the spring biased latch. Accordingly, easy removal and reattachment of the cutter element relative to the can opener is permitted and the problems of alignment and mechanical skill required to remove and/or reassemble the cutter mounting plate on the can opener frame are minimized.

Another object of my invention is to provide a can opener of the character described which includes a uniquely constructed thrust means for facilitating the movement of the can feed wheel into an overlapping and cooperating relationship with the cutter element, for maintaining such a relationship after having been manually moved thereto, and for separating the feed wheel from such overlapping and cooperating relationship with the said cutter element so as to permit insertion and/or removal of the can with respect to the can opener. a

A still further object of my invention is to provide a can opener having a uniquely constructed thrust means of the character described above which is comprised of a substantially vertically oriented goose-neck link having the can feed wheel drive shaft journalled in the lower end thereof and operative with a can piercing hand lever. It is a feature of the invention that one end of the hand lever is pivoted to the frame of the can opener while the upper end of the goosemeck link is pivoted to the can piercing hand lever at a point near the pivotal interconnection of the said hand lever to the frame. Accordingly, a positive control is maintained with respect to the goose-neck link via conventional operation of a pivotal mounted can piercing hand lever, and cutter element removability is provided without necessitating the removal of the hand lever per se.

Another object of my invention is to provide a can opener of the character described, including the gooseneck link thrust means and movable can feed wheel drive shaft, same being structurally interconnected to maintain the center distance between the various driving gears regardless of the varying vertical positions of the can feed wheel. It is a feature of this object that the cutting element, which is fixedly attached to the cutter mounting plate, is not significantly moved during the manual swinging of the can piercing hand lever, yet the feed wheel drive shaft both effects the initiation, of power-pierce and can end shearing by its movement but retains its center distance with respect to the various drive gears needed for the rotative movement of the shaft.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a can opener having a novel thrust means of the character described in which the direction of rotation of the can feed wheel drive shaft (journalled in the lower end portion of the goose-neck link) is such as to maintain the can piercing lever in its horizontal position at all times while the end is being sheared from the can,

thereby precluding unintended lowering of the can feed I wheel. In this regard, the construction of the can opener insures that the can feed wheel cannot be moved from its uppermost can shearing position unless the can piercing lever is manually swung upwardly from its operating horizontal position.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a uniquely constructed can opener having a thrust means of the character described wherein the direction of rotation of the can feed wheel drive shaft tends to rotate the goose-neck link the same direction that the gooseneck link is being rotated by downward manual swinging of the can piercing hand lever as the end of the can is being pierced by the cutting element, thereby facilitating the piercing of the end of the can.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a uniquely constructed power operated can opener and novel thrust means of the character described which combines the direction of rotation of the can feed wheel with the positioning of a fixed can guide and a movable can guide to optimize the maintaining of the flange or rim of a can on the can feed wheel during the power-pierce phase of the can opener operation. It is a feature of this object that the fixed can guide and the movable can guide are in position with respect to the axis of the feed wheel so that with can feed wheel rotation in the prescribed direction, the can will tilt in an appropriate clockwise direction during the powerpierce operation. Such a direction of tilt will optimally maintain the flange or rim of a can on the can feed wheel during the powerpierce phase of operation.

Another object of the invention is to coordinate the above-mentioned unique features of the can opener with the positioning of the motor on the frame of same, to thereby counterbalance and oppose any tendency of the entire can opener to shift or to rotate during the can piercing phase of the operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a uniquely constructed can opener with a movable can guide of the character described in which there is a minimum of friction between the lever supporting the movable can guide and the frame to impede the free swinging of such a lever byforce of the movable can guide spring.

Other and further objects of the invention, together with the features of novelty appurtenant thereto, will appear in the course of the following description.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the specification and are to be read in conjunction therewith and in which like reference numerals indicate like parts in the various views:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the upper portion of the can opener including the upright frame, the cuttermounting plate, the pivotal hand lever, and the push button. The broken lines indicate alternate positions which the can piercing hand lever and the can feed wheel occupy upon counterclockwise movement of the hand lever;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 with the cutter mounting plate removed from the can opener frame and with a portion of the can piercing lever broken away to show apertured portions of the can opener frame for interconnection with the goose-neck link;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the can opener shown in FIG. 1 with portions of the gear train broken away for clarity and with the broken lines indicating alternate positions of certain portions of the goose-neck thrust means and associated gears;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 with certain operating elements of the canopener removed and other parts shown in section to more clearly disclose the goose-neck thrust means in its operative environment;

FIG. 5 is a left side elevational view of the can opener shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a right side elevational view of the can opener shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 77 of FIG. 3 in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the push button and associated latch which releasably engages the pin member of the cutter mounting plate; and

FIG. 9 is a side view of the goose-neck link thrust means shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 from the right side thereof.

Turning now more particularly to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 2] generally designates the upright frame of the can opener. Frame 21 may be of conventional design, fabricated in any desired manner and is shown herein as a zinc die casting. The forward surface of the upper lefthand portion of frame 21 contains at least two forwardly extending bosses 22 and two other bosses 23 which are vertically oriented and elliptical in shape. Another boss, 24, is also round and extends forward from the front frame 21, however, its forward end terminates approximately 0.020 of an inch to the rear of a vertical plane through the forward ends of bosses 22 and 23 which is parallel to the forward surface of frame 21.

A cutter mounting plate 25 removably attaches the cutting element (discussed in more detail later) to the upright frame 21. Plate 25 is suitably apertured in the lower left quadrant thereof to accommodate the threaded portion of a fixed can guide 28. To accommodate the mounting of the guide 28, a flanged portion 29 of can guide 28 seats against the rearward vertical surface of cutter mounting plate 25. Nut 30 is threaded onto can guide 28 and secures same in the cutter mounting plate. The can guide 28 has a reduced diameter portion 31 extending forwardly to contact the top of the rim or flange of a can when engaged in the can opener. Can guide 28 also has a rearwardly extending portion having substantially the same diameter as threaded portion 27 (not shown), same being designated by the numeral 32 and having the shape of a pin member. To facilitate the attachment of cutter mounting plate 25 to frame 21, pin member 32 is provided with-an annular groove 33 (not shown). When the cutter mounting plate is assembled on the can opener, a portion of pin member 32 extends freely through a hole 34 (FIG. 2) in frame 21 with the annular groove 33 then located to the rear of the rear surface of frame 21. Finally, a rectangular boss 35 (FIG. 4) surrounds the hole 34 on the rearward side of frame 21. The forward side of the frame (FIG. 2) is provided with a clearance counterbore 36 in order to accommodate the flange portion 29 of the can guide 28.

The rearward side of frame 21 is further provided with bosses 37 and 38 (see the upper right-hand portion of FIG. 4). The rearward ends of these bosses terminate in the plane that is coincident with the rearward end of the rectangular boss 35. A latch, generally designated by the numeral 39, is mounted for free vertical movement and some possible wobble movement on the bosses 37 and 38 by the shoulder screws 40. Mounting the latch 39 on the bosses is further facilitated by permitting the shoulder portion of screws 40 to extend freely through the elliptical openings 41 and 42 in latch 39. As suggested above, latch 39 is provided with rise earns 43 for engagement with the lower rearward corner of boss 35 of frame 21 which will be described in more detail later.

As clearly shown in FIGS. 3 and 8, latch 39 has a rearwardly extending leg portion 44 with notch 45 provided in the lower surface thereof. One end of a tension coil spring 45a is hooked in notch 45 of latch 39 while the other spring end is hooked in an appropriate notch in boss 46 which likewise extends rearwardly from the can opener frame 21. The upper end of the tension coil spring 45a is located somewhat rearwardly of the lower end of same in order that the force of the spring will not only urge latch 39 upwardly at all times, but will also cause the latch to fulcrum under the heads of the shoulder screws 40 so as to always urge the latch to seat firmly against the rearward end of the rectangular boss 35. Accordingly, re-engagement of the latch in groove 33 of the can guide 28 is assured whenever the cutter mounting plate 25 is reassembled on the can opener frame.

The upper portion of latch 39 is provided with a vertically oriented tang (not shown) which accommodates (by pressing) a suitable knob or push button 48. When latch 39 is fully depressed by exerting a downward force on knob 48, the upper radial portion ofa keyhole shaped opening 49 is substantially concentric with the pin member 32 of can guide 28, thereby permitting removal or reinstallation of cutter mounting plate 25.

However, whenever the cutter mounting plate 25 is reinstalled (accomplished in part by depressing knob 48 and positioning plate 25 in engagement with bosses 22 and 23) the portion of the keyhole shaped opening of the latch that has a reduced width (designated by the numeral 50) will engage in groove 33 of can guide pin member 32. The rise earns 43 of latch 39 will also engage the lower corner of the boss 35 and the cutter mounting plate will be drawn firmly into engagement with the bosses 22 and 23 mentioned above. It should be observed that the axis of the can guide is well within the perimeter formed by the four bosses 22 and 23.

Continuing with a further description of the can opener and its operation with respect to the cutter mounting plate, a shoulder stud 51 is anchored in the cutter mounting plate 25 near its right-hand vertical edge (when viewed from the front) and extends substantially rearwardly through a relatively largerectangular opening 52 in frame 21 (see FIG. 2). When the shoulder stud seats downwardly in opening 52 of frame 21, the cutter mounting plate 25 is located in a substantially horizontal position. As will be discussed in more detail later, swinging of the cutter mounting plate 25 in a counterclockwise direction (FIG. 1) from its extreme clockwise position will result in the cutter mounting plate rotating approximately 3 from the horizontal position and with the shoulder stud then seating upwardly in the opening 52 of frame 21.

The cutter mounting plate 25 is provided with the conventional boss on which the usual stud or arbor is located to facilitate a mounting of cutter wheel 53. It is contemplated that a wobble cutter wheel such as that disclosed in U. S. Pat. No. 3,314,144, may be used with this subject can opener.

The cutter mounting plate is further provided with the substantially elliptical clearance opening 54 to as sure that no interference exists between the cutter mounting plate and a later described movable can guide under any condition of operation. Finally, the

cutter mounting plate is notched at 55 to permit removal and reassembly of same without interference with the can feed wheel, even though the can feed wheel might be in its uppermost position.

Turning once again to the rear side of frame 21 as shown in FIG. 4, a pair of elliptical bosses 56 and 57 have their rearward ends terminating in a common plane parallel to the frame. A switch control link, generally indicated by the numeral 60 (FIG. 3), is mounted for limited vertical movement on the bosses 56 and 57 by the shoulder screw 58 and the hexagonal shoulder screw 59. The shoulder of screw 58 extends freely through the vertical elliptical opening 61 in link 60. Likewise, the shoulder of screw 59 extends through similarly shaped opening 62 in the lower portion of link The switch control link 60, described above, has a rearwardly extending upper leg portion 64 that is provided with a hole 65 (not shown). The upper end of a tension coil spring 60a (FIG. 3) is hooked in hole 65, while the lower end thereof is hooked in groove 66 (FIG. 6) of hexagonal shoulder screw 59. Further, the control link 60 is provided with a rectangular opening 67 (which substantially overlies the opening 52 of frame 21). Accordingly, stud or pin 51 extends rearwardly through opening 67 at all times when the cutter mounting plate 25 is assembled on the can opener frame. Finally, the engagement of the upper end of opening 61 (in control link 60) with the shoulder screw 58 limits the downward movement of same.

However, as will be seen, switch control link 60 has a rearwardly extending leg 68 at the lower end thereof for engagement with plunger P of switch S. Additional strength is added to link 60 by reinforcing same with a rearwardly turned flange 69.

As suggested above, when switch control link 60 is in its downwardmost position, switch S will be off" and there will be approximately 0.020 inch clearance between the circumference of the stud or pin 51 and the upper edge of opening 67 of link 60. Accordingly, pin 51 seats downwardly on the lower edge of opening 52 in frame 21. This clearance permits the free withdrawal and reinsertion of pin 51 through the openings 52 and 67 when cutter mounting plate 25 is appropriately manipulated.

A motor M is supported relative to frame 21 in the conventional manner with the usual electric ,cord extending therefrom for operation with wall outlets: Switch S is fastened to frame 21 by screws 63 immedi ately below the link 60 (see FIG. 3) and is connected in series with the motor M. It is contemplated that the switch S is normally closed or, stated another way, when the plunger P thereof is not depressed, the switch will be ,on" and the motor will be operating. This type of conventional switch suggests that a spring means is located interiorly of the switch to maintain the contact points of the switch in a closed circuit condition at all times unless the plunger P is suitably depressed by some exterior force.

The now described structure facilitates in the accomplishment of power-pierce. Accordingly, the cutter mounting plate 25 is pivoted to frame 21 by the fixed can guide 28 (pin member 32). The force of the tension spring 60a urges stud 51 towards its seat on the lower edge of opening 52 in frame 21. As a result, the force of the tension spring 60a will result in the switch S being turned off and maintained in that condition until a sufficient counterforce overcomes the spring action and permits the lower leg 68 of control link 60 to be moved upwardly so that the plunger P of switch S may move upwardly, or in the direction to close its associated switch contacts, and the motor M is started, thereby rotating the can feed wheel as will be described in more detail.

Cutter wheel 53 is mounted on the cutter mounting plate 25 between the point which the plate is pivoted to frame 21 by can guide 28 (pin member 32) and the rearwardly extending pin 51. During the can piercing phase of operation of the can opener, the can will be moved upwardly by the can feed wheel 70. The end of the can will eventually engage the periphery of cutter wheel 53 and swing the cutter mounting plate counterclockwise (when viewed from the front of the can opener), against the predetermined tension of the switch control link spring 60a. Swinging movement of cutter mounting plate 25 continues until pin 51 seats upwardly in the opening 52 of frame 21. Further upward movement of the can feed wheel causes the end of the can to be pierced by cutter wheel 53. Resistance of the end of the can to shear by the cutter wheel 53 is always adequate to overcome the tension of the switch control link spring 60a, so that the switch S will remain in the on condition until the end has been completely sheared from the can. At this time, the control link spring 60a will react on link 60 to return the switch to the of condition until another can is opened.

I have found that the preferred tension for the abovementioned control link spring 60a would be substantially midway between the minimum tension requirement to manipulate the switch S to the off condition upon completely severing the end from any can and the maximum tension that can be used without manipulating switch S to the off condition while the cutter wheel 53 is shearing the end from the can. By minimizing friction between the cutter mounting plate 25 and the adjacent bosses on frame 21, the differential tension between the two above conditions is adequate to assure that the switch S will always be on when intended and will always be off at the proper time.

Numeral 71 designates a movable can guide which extends forwardly of frame 21. The mounting of guide 71 is facilitated by anchoring same in can guide lever 72 located on the rear surface of frame 21. Vertical movement of the movable can guide 71 is limited by its engagement with the upper and lower ends of the elliptical opening 74 (see FIG. 2) in frame 21. However, in operation, it should be noted that the movable can guide 71 will never engage the upper end frame portion around opening 74.

Can guide lever 72 is pivoted to frame 21 by shoulder rivet 73 and has a rearwardly turned leg 75 (FIG. 3) that is provided with hole 76 (FIG. 6). A tension spring 72a has one end thereof hooked in hole 76 f the movable can guide lever 72 while the other end of the spring is hooked in a groove (not shown) of the boss good alignment of movable can guide 71 under all conditions of operation. I

A can piercing lever 77 is positioned in recess 78 on the upper forward surface of frame 21. The depth of recess 78 is accentuated at 79 to provide clearance for the rear vertical side portion of lever 77. The pivotal attachment of lever 77 to frame 21 is accomplished by means ofa stud 80, which is anchored in lever 77 at the lower portion thereof (by hotheading process) and extends rearwardly through a hole (not shown) in the frame that is surrounded by boss 83. Reinforcing ribs (shown in FIGS. 3 and 4) strengthenthe rearward extension of boss 83. As clearly shown in FIG. 5, the length of boss 83 is relatively great and provides good alignment for can piercing lever 77. As shown in FIG. 2, stud 86 is anchored in the appropriate hole in lever 77 by hotheading process and extends rearwardly through and substantially beyond the arcuate clearance slot 88 of frame 21. Clockwise rotation of lever 77 is limited by the engagement of the lower right-hand edge (when viewed from the front) with step 89 of frame 21. Counterclockwise rotation is limited by the engagement of stud 86 with the lower end of the arcuate slot 88 (see FIG. 2). A suitable knob 90 is affixed to the free end of the can piercing lever 77 by any suitable means for convenience of operation.

The goose-neck link 91 (thrust means mentioned above and shown removed from the can opener frame in FIG. 9) is pivoted at' its upper end thereof with stud 86 (FIG. 2). Further, FIG. 9 indicates that the upper right-hand surface of goose-neck link 91 is somewhat offset from the lower surface to substantially conform to the offset at the upper end of frame 21. Link 91 will likewise be recessed at other areas to provide clearance in relation to certain other parts discussed later. In actual practice, stud 86 will be tapped to receive screw and washer 86a on the rear end thereof to securely fasten the upper end of link 91 thereon. Accordingly, screw and washer 86a operate both to maintain the upper end of link 91 adjacent the rearward upper surface of frame 21 and to also maintain can piercing lever 77 adjacent the forward surface of frame recess 78.

,A round boss 94 (FIG. 9) extends forwardly of the forward surface of link 91 and contacts the surface of frame 21 around and adjacent a later described can feed wheel opening. Another round boss, 96, extends rearwardly of the rearward surface 95 of link 91. Bore or bearing 97 extends through link 91, including the embossed portions 94 and 96 since same are concentric to the axis of the bearing 97. As suggested above, the surface 93, which circumscribes boss 94, seats against the rearward side of frame 21, below the offset portion provided at its upper end. In this manner, the boss portion 94 of the link actually extends through an arcuate opening 98 in frame 21 and terminates in a plane somewhat forward of the forward surface of the frame. The diameter of the boss portion 94 of link 91 is substantially the same as the width of the arcuate opening 98, except for operating clearance. However, a suitable clearance is provided so that the boss portion 94 never engages either end of opening 98. Finally, link 91 has recessed surfaces 99 and 100 on the rearward side thereof (FIG. 4) to provide a later described desired thickness.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, frame 21 is provided with bosses 101 and 102 on the rearward side thereof. The dimension of the recessed surfaces 99 and 100 from the rearward side of frame 21 is substantially the same as the height of the major portion of bosses 101 and 102 except for operating clearance. The lower end of link 91 is maintained in place with its surface 93 adjacent the frame 21 by the screw and washer combinations 103. Each of the washers 103 is slabbed off (as shown) to engage a cooperating portion 101a of boss 101 and the cooperating portion 102a of boss 102 thereby preventing the washers 103 from rotating.

The can feed wheel 70 mentioned above, is threaded onto the reduced diameter portion of the can feed wheel drive shaft 104 at the forward end thereof. The larger diameter portion of the can feed wheel drive shaft 104 (see FIG. 7) is journalled in the bearing 97 of link 91 and extends somewhat rearwardly of the boss portion 96. A suitable gear 116 is secured to the rearward end of the can feed wheel drive shaft 104 for rotating the shaft in the usual manner. Further, with respect to the can feed wheel in its operation, the usual can guard 105 is mounted on the forward side of frame 21 substantially below the can feed wheel for maintaining the side wall of an engaged can at the desired angle relative to the face of the can feed wheel 70. I As shown in FIG. 3, the axis of the pinion gear 115 that drives the can feed wheel drive shaft gear 116 is somewhat below and substantially to the right of the axis of the can feed wheel drive shaft 104 when the latter. is in thesolid line or uppermost position. A gear center distance maintaining link 106 is also located on the rear surface of frame 21 and operates to maintain a center distance between the can feed wheel drive shaft gear and its associated driving pinion gear 115. Some additional center distance maintaining benefit is had by the engagement of the boss portion 94 of gooseneck link 91 with the arcuate opening 98 in the frame. However, link 106 provides a more accurate means to insure the proper center distance. This link (link 106) is journalled on the boss 96 of goose-neck link 91 while the other end thereof is journalled on the reduced diameter portion of boss 107 that extends rearwardly from frame 21. In actual practice, boss 107 has a larger diameter. portion 107a against which the adjacent end of link 106 may seat. The stud or arbor 108 on which the combination idler gear and driving pinion 115 is journalled, is preferably a separate part that is press fitted in boss 107.

To maintain proper spacing, link 91 is provided with rearwardly extending bosses 109 and 110 (see FIGS. 3 and 4). It may be observed that both of these bosses (109 and 110) are somewhat to the left of a vertical line extending through the axis of the bearing opening 97. One end of the link 106 is pivoted on the boss portion 96 of goose-neck link 91 and seats against the vertical surfaces of the bosses 109 and 110. Compression coil spring 117 is telescoped over the can feed wheel drive shaft 104 and will be interposed between the gear 116 and link 106 in order to maintain the can feed wheel 70 firmly in engagement with the boss portion 94 of goose-neck link 91 and to also maintain link 106 firmly seated against bosses 109 and 110 and against the portion 107a of boss 107.

The motor M may be mounted on any suitable bosses extending rearwardly of frame 21, however, the location of the motor relative to the can opener is important from the standpointof proper ballast. Good advantage of proper weight distribution opposes any tendency of the can opener to tilt incident to torque re- 10. quired for the swinging of the can piercing lever during the can piercing phase of operation of opening a can.

OPERATION The operation with respect to the removable cutter mounting plate via the push button operated latch 39 is similar to that described in my patent application the four bosses 22 and 23, the cutter mounting plate 25 is always drawn snugly thereagainst to provide good alignment and to maintain the overlapping portion of the cutter wheel 53 in a predetermined spatial relationship with respect to the face of the can feed wheel 70 whenever such overlapping is called for. Of course, the cutter mounting plate 25 is pivoted relative to the frame by the fixed can guide and remains on the bosses 22 and 23 whenever swung to other possible operating positions. I

The can piercing lever 77 has the above-mentioned limits to swinging movement in both the clockwise and the counterclockwise direction when viewed from the front. When lever -77 is in its extreme clockwise position with the under edge of the free end engaging step 89 of frame 21, it will be in a substantially horizontal position, with the axes of studs 80 and 86 and the axis of the can feed wheel drive shaft in a substantially straight line. This shaft and lever-stud orientation is such that downward force on can feed wheel 70 cannot cause same to be lowered from its uppermost position. The unintended lowering of the can feed wheel 70 while an end is being sheared from the can is further assured by the friction between the can feed wheel drive shaft 104 and its bearing 97 of link 91 always tending to rotate the goose-neck link 91 in the same direction. This, of course, is the direction urging the can piercing lever 77 against its stop seat 89 in frame 21. Such lever arrangement, in conjunction with the goose-neck link, requires that lever 77 be rotated in the opposite direction (counterclockwise when viewed from the front) to permit the lowering of the can feed wheel 70.

It should be pointed out that the cutter wheel 53 has some substantially vertical movement due to the approximately 3 rotation of the cutter mounting plate, however, the canfeed wheel will still be separated sufficiently from cutter wheel 53, when ,feed wheel 70 is in its lowermost position, to permit the insertion or removal of the rim or flange of a can therebetween. In the above-mentioned lowermost position, the can piercing lever 77 will be in its extreme counterclockwise position (when viewed from the front) and the lever stud 86 will be in engagement with the lower end of arcuate slot 88 in frame 21.

The clockwise rotation of cutter mounting plate 25 on its pivot 28 is limited by the engagementof stud 51 (which extends rearwardly from the right-hand end of the cutter mounting plate) with the: lower edge of opening 52 (see FIG. 2) in frame 21. Likewise, the counterclockwise rotation of plate 25 is limited by engagement of the same stud 51 with the upper edge of the opening 52. As suggested above, when the circumference of the plate stud 51 seats on the lower edge of opening 52 in frame 21, and when the switch control link 60 (-FIG. 3) is in its lower-position under the tension of spring 60a, there will be approximately 0.020 inchclearance between the upper arcuate surface of stud 51 and the upper edge of opening 67 in control link 60. This clearance facilitates the insertion and withdrawal of stud 51 as cutter mounting plate 25 is installed or removed from the remainder of the can opener.

Due to the shorter longitudinal dimension of can guide 71 and stud 51 relative to the rearwardly extending portion of can guide 28 (and to the normal installation procedure), the rearwardly extending pin member of can guide 28 will arrive at and align in its associated opening 34 in frame 21 prior to stud 51 coming in close proximity to the frame. Also the can guide 71 is aligned with its associated opening prior to the cutter mounting plate arriving at the free end thereof. Therefore, insertion of the stud 51 in opening 52 of frame 21 is facilitated and the opening 54 in cutter mounting plate 25 will automatically clear the movable can guide 71.

To remove the cutter mounting plate and the associated cutter wheel from the remainder of the can opener, it is only necessary to depress the knob or push button 48 and then to pull the cutter mounting plate forwardly. This is easily accomplished by grasping the two vertical end portions of the cutter mounting plate or any of the normally forwardly protruding portions and sliding same in the forward direction. Reinstallation of the cutter mounting plate is accomplished by the reverse procedure, after fully depressing the push button or latch knob 48. l have found that the tapered end of stud 51 and the can guide pin member facilitates inserting same in their respective openings. Of course, after the plate has been installed and the latch knob released, the latch tension spring returns the latch and the corresponding rise cams to a seating position, thereby drawing the cutter mounting plate against the bosses 22 and 23 and causing the narrow portion 50 of keyhole opening in latch 39 to be engaged within the groove 33 of the can guide pin member as intended.

To initiate the can opening operation, the user first grasps the knob 90 or associated part of the can opener lever 77 and swings same to its extreme counterclockwise position (when viewed from the front). The can is then held in one hand and placed with its end seating upwardly against the periphery of the cutter wheel 53. Can piercing lever 77 is then swung clockwise or downwardly to its extreme position, whereupon the user may discontinue holding the can.

As the lever was swung in the clockwise direction mentioned above, the can feed wheel-70 moved from its lowermost position to its uppermost position and is caused to remain in the said uppermost position. The can is moved upwardly, since the under edge of the upper rim or. flange of the can is engaged by feed wheel 70, and the cutter mounting plate is caused to swing counterclockwise on its pivot (guide structure 28), against predetermined tension of the switch control link tension spring 60a. The upward movement of the control link permits the switch S to assume its on condition, thereby starting motor M and causing the can feed wheel 70 to commence feeding of the can.

After motor M has been started, and with stud 51- seated against the upper edge of opening 52 in frame 21, an additional upward movement of can feed wheel 70 causes the end of the can to be pierced by cutter wheel 53. Resistance of the end of the can to shear by the cutter wheel 53 results in stud 51 remaining in engagement with the upper edge of the opening 52 in frame 21 until the end has been completely severed from the can. At this time, force of the switch control link tension spring 600 will manipulate the switch to the of condition.

The above-mentioned movement of the can feed wheel from its lowermost position to its uppermost position also results in the movement of the rim or flange of a can into engagement with the fixed can guide 28 and the movable can guide 71. Accordingly, can guide 71 is moved upwardly, against the tension of the movable can guide lever spring 72a, in opening 74 of frame 21. Consequently, the fixed can guide 28 cooperates with the movable can guide 71 to force the rim or flange of the can downwardly on the teeth of the can feed wheel 70 to accomplish the required penetration of the teeth of the can feed wheel into the under edge of the rim or flange for proper traction.

It should be noted that use of the relatively long studs and 86 (both of which are firmly anchored in can piercing lever 77) not only provides good alignment for the can piercing lever 77 relative to frame 21 but also provides good alignment for the upper end of the goose-neck link 91. The above described attachment means which maintains the lower portion of the gooseneck link adjacent the frame 21 further provides good rigidity and alignment for the link relative to the frame and results in the feed wheel drive shaft gear being movable relative to the pinion gear without upsetting any of the critical distance between axis centers.

Finally, once the end of the can is completely sheared therefrom, the link spring 60a will move the control link 60 downwardly, automatically depressing plunger S and shutting off motor M. However, the can opener continues to hold the can until such time as the user elects to remove same. Of course, this is accomplished by holding the can and again swinging the lever 77 upwardly to its extreme position.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all of the ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the structure.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it

is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a power operated can opener, the combination therewith of:

an upright frame,

a cutter mounting plate,

a cutter member operably attached to said cuttermounting plate,

a can feed wheel movably supported relative to said frame,

a motor drivingly connected with said feed wheel, a

switch means connected with said motor and having a motor energized condition and a motor deenergized condition,

a hand lever pivotally attached to said frame and extending exteriorly thereof so as to be manipulated by a user of said can opener,

a curvilinear link, said curvilinear link having at least two end portions, said feed wheel being journalled in one of said end portions, said operating lever being pivotally attached to the other end portion of said link, said link defining a curvilinear path between said end portions, said feed wheel movable in a substantially vertical direction between the can engaging position and a can release position in accordance with the movement of said operating lever.

2. The combination as in claim 1 including means for releasably attaching said cutter mounting plate to said frame.

3. The combination as in claim 2, wherein said cutter mounting plate attaching means includes a pin member fixedly attached to and extending from one of said frame and said cutter mounting plate, an aperture in the other of said frame and said cutter mounting plate, and a manually operable latch, said latch releasably engaging said pin member to hold said cutter mounting plate adjacent said frame and to permit said cutter mounting plate to be removed from its operating position adjacent said frame.

4. The combination as in claim 2, including a movable can guide supported from said frame, a fixed can guide supported from said frame, and means for positioning said movable can guide relative to said fixed can guide to impart a tilt to a can whose end is in the process of being pierced, said tilt being in a direction being operable to move said can into a position with re pierce, and cut first member extending from said lever through said frame, a second member extending from said lever and pivotally interconnecting said lever with said frame, the axis of said first member being spaced relative to the axis of the second member when said feed wheel is in the can engaging position to cooperate with the direction of rotation of said feed wheel :in assisting and maintaining the can feed wheel in the can engaging position.

7. The combination as in claim. 1, wherein said can feed wheel and said motor are interconnected by a gear linkage comprising at least two gears, a feed wheel drive shaft, at least one of said gears being attached for rotation with said feed wheel drive shaft, said link operable to maintain the center distance between said feed wheel drive shaft gear and said second gear regardless of the operative position occupied by said can feed wheel.

8. The combination as in claim 1 wherein said feed wheel and said motor are interconnected by a gear linkage comprising at least two gears, a feed wheel drive shaft, at least one of said gears being attached for rotation with said feed wheel drive shaft, a second link, said second link including means for pivotally attaching same to said frame, said second link also attached to said first mentioned link so that the center distance between said drive shaft gear and said second gear is maintained regardless of the operative position occupied by said feed wheel in accordance with the movement of said hand lever. 

1. In a power operated can opener, the combination therewith of: an upright frame, a cutter mounting plate, a cutter member operably attached to said cutter mounting plate, a can feed wheel movably supported relative to said frame, a motor drivingly connected with said feed wheel, a switch means connected with said motor and having a motor energized condition and a motor de-energized condition, a hand lever pivotally attached to said frame and extending exteriorly thereof so as to be manipulated by a user of said can opener, a curvilinear link, said curvilinear link having at least two end portions, said feed wheel being journalled in one of said end portions, said operating lever being pivotally attached to the other end portion of said link, said link defining a curvilinear path between said end portions, said feed wheel movable in a substantially vertical direction between the can engaging position and a can release position in accordance with the movement of said operating lever.
 2. The combination as in claim 1 including means for releasably attaching said cutter mounting plate to said frame.
 3. The combination as in claim 2, wherein said cutter mounting plate attaching means includes a pin member fixedly attached to and extending from one of said frame and said cutter mounting plate, an aperture in the other of said frame and said cutter mounting plate, and a manually operable latch, said latch releasably engaging said pin member to hold said cutter mounting plate adjacent said frame and to permit said cutter mounting plate to be removed from its operating position adjacent said frame.
 4. The combination as in claim 2, including a movable can guide supported from said frame, a fixed can guide supported from said frame, and means for positioning said movable can guide relative to said fixed can guide to impart a tilt to a can whose end is in the process of being pierced, said tilt being in a direction to best maintain the can flange or rim on said can feed wheel during the piercing of the can and by said cutter member.
 5. The invention as in claim 1 including switch control means for automatically controlling said switch means to energize said motor to effect power-pierce of said can and cutting as said feed wheel is advanced from said can release position to said cutter toward said can engaging position, said can feed wheel thereby being operable to move said can into a position with respect to said cutter member to contact, pierce, and cut the end from the can.
 6. The combination as in claim 1, wherein said lever has a first member pivotally connected to said link, said first member extending from said lever through said frame, a second member extending from said lever and pivotally interconnecting said lever with said frame, the axis of said first member being spaced relative to the axis of the second member when said feed wheel is in the can engaging position to cooperate with the direction of rotation of said feed wheel in assisting and maintaining the can feed wheel in the can engaging position.
 7. The combination as in claim 1, wherein said can feed wheel and said motor are interconnected by a gear linkage comprising at least two gears, a feed wheel drive shaft, at least one of said gears being attached for rotation with said feed wheel drive shaft, said link operable to maintain the center distance between said feed wheel drive shaft gear and said second gear regardless of the operative position occupied by said can feed wheel.
 8. The combination as in claim 1 wherein said feed wheel and said motor are interconnected by a gear linkage comprising at least two gears, a feed wheel drive shaft, at least one of said gears being attached for rotation with said feed wheel drive shaft, a second link, said second link including means for pivotally attaching same to said frame, said second link also attached to said first mentioned link so that the center distance between said drive shaft gear and said second gear is maintained regardless of the operative position occupied by said feed wheel in accordance with the movement of said hand lever. 